Director Richard Sarafian Dies at 83

The "Vanishing Point" helmer also was known for his work on "The Twilight Zone" and "Gunsmoke."

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Richard Sarafian, an influential film director whose 1971 countercultural car-chase thriller Vanishing Point brought him a decades-long cult following, has died in Southern California, his son said Saturday night.

Richard Sarafian died at a Santa Monica hospital Wednesday of pneumonia contracted while he was recovering from a fall, son Deran Sarafian told The Associated Press. He was 83.

Sarafian worked primarily in television in his early career, directing episodes of 60s shows like Gunsmoke, I Spy, and 77 Sunset Strip.

He also directed 1963's "Living Doll" episode of The Twilight Zone, a chilling tale whose demonic main character Talky Tina terrified children for decades. That included his own kids. Deran Sarafian said as a boy he thought the episode was "the most horrible thing I've ever seen" before learning his father had made it.